Homeschool benefits and savings in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, or St. Lucie County
Indian River State College's Promise Program pays 100% of in-state tuition left after other aid for two years toward an associate degree, against an estimated $1,380 per full-time term in tuition and fees. In-district homeschool graduates in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties qualify with no GPA or income minimum, and applications for the Class of 2027 open November 2, 2026.
Who qualifies
Graduates from an in-district homeschool
Your student graduates from a home education program in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, or St. Lucie County. Students in the Personalized Education Program (PEP) are not eligible.
Shows the homeschool paperwork
Submit the Indian River State College Homeschool Affidavit Form and the school district letter acknowledging that your home education program was established or ended.
Takes the PERT
Private and home school students must complete P.E.R.T. placement testing; public school graduates are exempt.
Files the FAFSA each year
The Promise is not need-based, but every Promise student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year and be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present.
What it is worth
Indian River State College estimates $1,380 per term in tuition and fees for a full-time Florida resident in an associate degree; the Promise pays the tuition part.
- One full-time term
- $1,380
- Fall and spring
- $2,760
- Two years, fall and spring
- $5,520
- Application fee
- $20
- Fee to pledge to the Promise
- $0
The Promise covers tuition only, so budget for lab, distance learning, and other fees plus books and supplies, which you can spread over the Nelnet payment plan.
From applying to keeping it
- From Nov. 2, 2026
Apply and pledge
Apply to Indian River State College and pledge to the Promise. Sign up on the Promise page for 2027 deadline updates.
- Senior year
File the FAFSA and test
Complete the FAFSA, take the P.E.R.T., and send the homeschool affidavit and district letter.
- Summer before college
Finish enrollment steps
In 2026 the residency form was due July 13, the remaining enrollment steps July 30, and orientation ran August 13-14. The 2027 dates are not posted yet.
- First fall term
Start college
Funding begins in the fall after graduation. Take SLS1501 orientation, meet an advisor, and join the First-Year Experience Program.
- Each term
Keep it
Meet the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards and renew the FAFSA. Twelve credits each fall and spring plus six in summer keeps your student on a two-year track.
What it pays for
Covered
- In-state tuition
- Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Associate in Applied Science degrees
Not covered
- Lab and other course fees
- Books and supplies
- Career-training certificates outside an associate degree
- Summer classes before the first fall term
Who pays first
- Bright Futures
- Federal financial aid and other scholarships
- Promise Program
It is last-dollar funding: Bright Futures, financial aid, and scholarships apply first, and the Promise pays the in-state tuition that remains, with no cash value.
The Indian River State College Foundation sponsors the Promise through donor gifts and unrestricted investment proceeds.
Who to contact
The Promise team answers eligibility and enrollment questions for the program.
promise@irsc.edu Promise Program page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Florida
You must file the initial written notice with the county superintendent within 30 days of starting. You must file a termination notice and the annual evaluation within 30 days of ending the program.
Florida sets these rules:
- Subjects: Parent-directed instruction; Florida law does not prescribe a specific curriculum for a home education program.
- Testing: Provide an annual educational evaluation using one statutory method; a portfolio review is one option, and an alternate method requires agreement with the district superintendent.
- Records: Keep a portfolio with an activities log made as instruction occurs, reading-material titles, and work samples. Preserve it for two years and make it available for inspection on 15 days’ written notice.
- Teachers: Florida does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Florida also has two education savings accounts that home-educated students can use.
- The Personalized Education Program funds a Florida K-12 student's approved education costs through a scholarship organization, with income and priority rules. It is separate from registering a home education program with your district.
- The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities funds approved education and disability costs for a student with a qualifying disability, including one in a registered home education program. The award depends on the disability and its services.
Read the Florida homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Florida
Questions parents ask
- Is a homeschool graduate eligible for the IRSC Promise Program?
- Yes. Eligible in-district homeschool graduates qualify when they provide the college's Homeschool Affidavit Form and the school district letter about their home education program.
- We use the PEP scholarship. Does my student qualify for the IRSC Promise?
- No. The college says Personalized Education Program students are not eligible; only public, charter, approved private, and in-district homeschool graduates are.
- Does my student need a certain GPA?
- Only the 2.0 needed to graduate high school. In college, your student must meet the financial aid office's Satisfactory Academic Progress GPA and completion rate rules.
- What if my student earned an associate degree through dual enrollment?
- A student who finishes an A.A. alongside high school graduation can use the Promise to complete an A.S. degree.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
College classes can cover part of high school. We teach the subjects your child needs alongside them, starting at the right level in each subject.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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